Bruce A. Koplan MD, MPH, FACC, director of cardiac arrhythmia service at Kent Hospital and a member of Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Kent, is a member of a team to first implant a new subcutaneous heart device in patients at risk of cardiac arrest.

Koplan, along with other Brigham and Women’s cardiologists, implanted three of the new devices late last month at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The heart device is the first of its kind and is being called a breakthrough treatment in preventing sudden cardiac deaths.

Federal regulators approved the subcutaneous heart defibrillator, otherwise known as S-ICD, just two months ago. The defibrillator, which was built by Boston Scientific Corp., can be placed under the skin, rather than connecting directly to the heart. It is a less invasive treatment that can be used on patients who cannot tolerate standard cardiac defibrillators.

“I am honored to recognize Dr. Koplan on the implementation of this new heart device, which could have a significant impact on the many patients in our region who are at risk for cardiac arrest,” Sandra Coletta, president and CEO of Kent Hospital, COO of Care New England Health System, said in a statement. “Dr. Koplan brings a vast array of knowledge to Kent and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals’ and the fact that he was the first physician to implement such a highly anticipated device, here in New England, speaks volumes of his high level of expertise and the care he is able to provide.”

Standard cardiac defibrillators run a wire, or lead, through veins into the heart. The wire is attached to an implanted defibrillator, which can send an electric shock to the heart to treat arrhythmia, an abnormally fast or chaotic heartbeat. The S-ICD is a less invasive treatment that delivers the shock without inserting the wire into the heart and is expected to be used in about 10 to 20 percent of patients.